Even when you only have a day in Adelaide, make sure you make the most of it and see what this stunning city has to offer. With a car hire you can zoom around to all of these hot spots with ease.
Beautiful morning brunch
Just because you only have a day, don't feel like you have to rush around – there is plenty of time. Start your day off with a delicious and relaxing brunch.
You're spoilt for choice when it comes to brunch spots. Fair Espresso is where passionate baristas and foodies come together to share their passion with the wider public. The team here is also dedicated to the Fairtrade movement. They use organic beans (only the freshest) and organic milk. Their hard work has been recognised – in 2013 they won the Fairtrade Cafe of the Year.
Other cafes that are absolutely worth checking out are E for Ethel, which has a pastel, lovely and homey ambiance; Entropy, a cafe situated in a relocated railway shed by the river; and Jill's Country Kitchen, a vintage and welcoming cafe that'll remind you of your Grandma.
Midday attraction hunt
After your bunch, head to one of the amazing attractions in the city. There's the zoo, war memorial, magic mountain in Glenelg, migration museum and Tandanya, the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.
The Art Gallery of South Australia is a real highlight, often welcoming exciting exhibits and with a top notch permanent collection. The Extreme Climate of Nicholas Folland is one of the temporary exhibitions you should check out. Showing until February 1 next year, this is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of the sculptor and installation artist. His works use an unparalleled mix of materials including domestic crystalware, taxidermy and ice. The exhibit Paradise on Earth, Lace: The Art of Adornment and Beauty in decay will take you around the world and show you an amazing selection of artists and styles.
Afternoon garden walk
Spend your afternoon checking out one of the many stunning gardens in the city. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is known for its striking gardens and historic buildings.
The Palm House is a delightful Victorian glasshouse that was brought all the way from Bremen, Germany in 1875. It was designed by Gustav Runge, who used innovative engineering techniques to create something unique and beautiful. When it was created, the hanging walls were unlike anything seem before. It's highly likely it is the only one of its kind to exist and where you'll see plants from Madagascar.
The Wollemi Pine is a definite must when you're visiting the gardens. This plant was around with the dinosaurs and is one of the oldest and rarest in existence. It can grow to 40 metres tall and in the spring and early summer the leaves have a touch of yellow.
A less well known garden is the Adelaide-Himeji Garden which is where you can witness the glory of Japanese gardens. There are two classic styles on display, senzui, which is the lake and mountain garden and uses water in spectacular ways, and kare senzui, which is the dry garden and utilises rocks and sands to make visitors think of the sea.
Luxurious evening dinner
Spend the end of your day in Adelaide at one of the finest restaurants in the city. Ruby Red Flamingo is one of the best in the city. Here you'll find a modern and hip Italian diner that is also completely cool and casual. The retro style interior and delicious food, such as maccheroni eggplant with smoked scarmorza and ricotta, make this a wonderful choice. There is also Prawana for authentic Kabul-style cooking and a seasonal menu and Bar 9, where all of your gourmet burger dreams come true.